Night came, and Rachel leaned against the headboard of her bed as she read her book. There was a bowl near the bed, and its contents-a concoction to keep her energy levels up during her pregnancy-was already finished. As Rachel read her book, she unconsciously caressed her belly.
Although she wasn’t at a stage where her belly would show yet, she could already sense the presence of this new little life. This was probably what they called the bond between mother and child.
Rachel had spent the last few days alone, and as the days passed, she grew even more fonder of this child. She recalled that Justin had also grown up without his own parents as well. As long as the child in her belly had the Burtons’ blood flowing in their veins, no one would mistreat them. After all, the child was innocent.
Just then, the door opened with a creak. The light footsteps that Rachel then heard were different from how they usually sounded. She froze, and when she turned around, she saw an unwelcome guest. Amber?
Why are you here?
“Why are you so surprised?” Amber paced around her room. “I heard that you’re pregnant, so I came all the way to see you. After all, that kid in your belly is my nephew.”
Amber then stretched a hand out, and the diamond ring glinting on her ring finger was especially radiant. “Take a look. What do you think this is?”
Rachel frowned. What exactly is your motive?
A document then fell onto Rachel’s blanket with a smack.
“Sign this.”
Rachel stiffened, having seen the words ‘divorce agreement written on the paper. She then looked up in disbelief.
Amber was absolutely smug. “Justin wanted me to bring this to you. He’s already signed it. As soon as you sign the papers, you won’t have any more ties with him.”
That’s impossible.
“Impossible?” Amber chuckled coldly. “You really thought that your position as the lady of the Burton family is secured just because you’ve got a bun in the oven? Let me tell you this-all I need to do is make some little scheme, then that child in your belly will become utterly worthless.” The Albrights overseas? It’s all just a cover.
Amber had begun putting her plans together ever since she heard about Rachel’s pregnancy. After all, she didn’t believe that Justin felt nothing toward her. Men were the embodiment of jealousy, so if Amber showed signs that she would leave, Justin would certainly find a way to stop her from doing so-even if that meant kicking Rachel out of the picture.
“This is an ambitious gamble. If I lose, then the only thing I can do is go abroad. However, it’s clear that I’ve won this gamble.” Amber showed off her ring, a pleased look plastered on her face. “I love the ring that Justin has given me. We’re about to get engaged, so don’t blame me when I show you the door if you insist on continuing to embarrass yourself.”
Rachel clutched the paper tightly, and her face was awfully pale. This was impossible. Justin has said before that he wants me to keep this child. I won’t believe you.
“Who cares if you keep that kid? Don’t worry, I’ll help you take good care of the baby as long as it isn’t a stillborn!”
Amber’s hand reached over, and Rachel whipped the former’s hand away in fear. As a result, the sharp edges of the diamond on the ring sliced across Rachel’s face. Instantly, she felt a deep pain worming its way through her flesh.
Amber let out a surprised shriek and glared at her balefully. “What did you do? You’ve dirtied my ring!”
Rachel pulled her blanket off and got out of bed.
“Where are you going?”
Move. I’m going to look for Justin and get the answers straight from him. Evidently, Rachel did not believe a
single word of what Amber said.
“Stop right there. Justin doesn’t want to see you at all. How can you be so insolent?”
As they tussled, the bowl fell to the floor with a crash before shards of porcelain flew everywhere.
“What is going on?” A commanding voice could be heard coming from outside the door. Justin then entered the room with wide strides.
Amber promptly feigned a weak, soft look before making her way over. “Justin, I spoke nicely to her when I asked her to sign the papers, but she lost her temper and threw stuff at me. I’ve gotten hurt.”
Justin glanced at Rachel. The latter’s eyes were red-rimmed as she stared at him in a stunned manner.
“Where did you get hurt?” Justin withdrew his gaze and picked Amber’s hand up to check for injuries right before Rachel’s eyes.
In truth, Amber wasn’t hurt at all. The sole patch of blood on her hand was also from Rachel when the
“Get the servants to patch you up. It shouldn’t be serious.”
Justin’s worry and concern toward Amber felt like stabs to Rachel’s heart.
“Leave this to me.” Justin wrapped an arm around Amber’s waist and patted her back. “Don’t let your mood be affected by this.”
“What about the divorce agreement?”
“Okay.”
After Amber left, Justin’s eyes quickly chilled. “Didn’t I tell you to rest well? What were you doing?”
Was what she said true? You want a divorce?
“Isn’t this what you’ve been waiting for since the beginning? I’m just fulfilling your wish.”
At that, Rachel’s mind went black. She staggered backward, but she ended up stepping on a porcelain shard. A sharp pain shot up her foot, but she didn’t flinch at all-it seemed as though the pain would make her mind clearer, letting her realize that this was reality and not a nightmare.
Justin’s eyes darkened. Just as he was about to approach her, he noticed a figure standing near the door through the corner of his eyes.
“You will leave once the divorce is finalized. Once the child is here, you are free.”
Those cold words made Rachel feel like she had been plunged into an icy bath. She didn’t even have the energy to sign her response, seeming as though something had sucked all the strength out of her in an instant.
“Sign this.” Justin walked over to her side and placed the papers and a pen before her. There were two copies of the divorce agreement, and Justin had already signed both of them.
Rachel’s eyes instantly teared up, but she forced back her tears as she accepted the papers. However, she
couldn’t stop her hands from shaking. The only sounds that could be heard in the room was the scratching of the pen as she signed her name.
The freedom that she yearned for was finally in front of her. Once she finished that last stroke, she would no longer be Justin’s wife, nor would she have any more ties to the Burton Family. However, that last stroke felt astronomically difficult. No matter how she tried, she couldn’t bring herself to fully finish her signature.
Justin suddenly grabbed hold of her hand and roughly finished it for her. “That will do. Keep this copy for yourself. Frankie will bring someone over to help you move your belongings tomorrow afternoon.”
Rachel fell and sat on the bed upon hearing those cold words tossed at her. Meanwhile, her foot continued to bleed. The shard embedded in her flesh was like a thorn, digging deeper and deeper into her foot. It even felt as though it would dig all the way to her heart and open up all those old wounds that never got a chance to properly heal, causing them to bleed again.
On the other hand, Amber’s cheers drifted up from downstairs.
A gust blew in from the balcony. The copy of her divorce agreement flipped over from the wind, plastering itself to Rachel’s foot. With that, blood soaked into the paper,
The words ‘divorce agreement’ were stark. It was as though a hole had suddenly opened in her heart, and a storm raged on within it. She asked herself this-didn’t she actually wish to escape from this place?
That day had come at last. However, why did she feel so awful about it?
Rachel pressed a hand to her chest, and her bony fingers clutched her pajamas tightly while creating wrinkles in it. Still, she couldn’t stop the pain that assaulted her like a raging wave. She felt as though she was about to pass out and die, for even breathing was a task.
